Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Okotoks Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Okotoks

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,084 per month in Montreal vs $2,318 in Okotoks, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,161 per month in Montreal vs $3,241 in Okotoks, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,239 per month in Montreal vs $4,165 in Okotoks, rent included.

Montreal is about 10% cheaper than Okotoks, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Montreal and Okotoks sit above the global median – Montreal by 55%, Okotoks by 72%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Montreal
Okotoks
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.97 CA$22.30
$11.13 CA$15.55
43.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.4 CA$102
$65.0 CA$90.7
12.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.97 CA$15.32
$11.45 CA$15.98
-4.19%
Cappuccino
$3.79 CA$5.29
$3.86 CA$5.39
-1.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16 CA$3.01
$1.64 CA$2.28
31.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 CA$2.09
$1.60 CA$2.24
-6.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.90 CA$8.24
$5.30 CA$7.40
11.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.82 CA$9.52
$5.04 CA$7.04
35.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montreal
Okotoks
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.31 CA$3.23
$2.03 CA$2.83
13.79%
White Bread (500g)
$3.38 CA$4.72
$2.84 CA$3.97
19.01%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.83 CA$5.36
$3.13 CA$4.37
22.36%
Eggs
$3.40 CA$4.75
$3.47 CA$4.85
-2.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.11 CA$22.50
$12.49 CA$17.44
28.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.78 CA$16.46
$12.53 CA$17.51
-5.99%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.32 CA$21.40
$15.84 CA$22.12
-3.28%
Apples (1kg)
$3.66 CA$5.11
$3.29 CA$4.59
11.25%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 CA$2.25
$1.38 CA$1.92
16.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.07 CA$5.68
$3.91 CA$5.47
4.09%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.40 CA$6.14
$3.71 CA$5.19
18.60%
Potato (1kg)
$2.68 CA$3.74
$2.43 CA$3.39
10.29%
Onion (1kg)
$2.66 CA$3.72
$2.23 CA$3.12
19.28%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.29 CA$3.20
$2.67 CA$3.73
-14.23%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 CA$2.48
$1.93 CA$2.70
-8.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.07 CA$18.25
$12.97 CA$18.12
0.77%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.70 CA$14.94
$12.35 CA$17.24
-13.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.13 CA$4.37
$2.95 CA$4.12
6.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.45 CA$4.82
$3.22 CA$4.50
7.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Montreal
Okotoks
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.84 CA$3.97
$2.51 CA$3.51
13.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$72.7 CA$102
$55.1 CA$76.9
32.00%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.52 CA$4.92
$3.20 CA$4.46
10.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.44 CA$2.01
$1.67 CA$2.33
-13.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$33.29 CA$46.48
$22.97 CA$32.08
44.93%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 CA$1.71
$1.05 CA$1.47
17.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.4K CA$35.4K
$25.2K CA$35.1K
0.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.5K CA$30.0K
$22.3K CA$31.2K
-3.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montreal
Okotoks
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.9 CA$103
$202 CA$282
-63.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.87 CA$51.5
$45.12 CA$63.0
-18.28%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.97 CA$60.0
$66.2 CA$92.4
-35.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montreal
Okotoks
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.82 CA$59.8
$28.19 CA$39.36
51.90%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.86 CA$23.55
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.19 CA$15.63
$12.36 CA$17.25
-9.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montreal
Okotoks
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$608 CA$850
$696 CA$973
-12.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,823 CA$8,132
$11.7K CA$16.3K
-50.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montreal
Okotoks
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.1 CA$85.3
$42.93 CA$60.0
42.30%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.96 CA$62.8
$42.08 CA$58.8
6.84%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 CA$143
$63.5 CA$88.7
60.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 CA$170
$74.1 CA$104
64.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montreal
Okotoks
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,198 CA$1,674
$1,254 CA$1,751
-4.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$942 CA$1,316
$1,168 CA$1,631
-19.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,087 CA$2,914
$1,755 CA$2,451
18.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,559 CA$2,178
$1,628 CA$2,273
-4.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,093 CA$7,112
$3,155 CA$4,405
61.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,783 CA$5,283
$3,066 CA$4,282
23.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montreal
Okotoks
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,880 CA$4,022
$2,988 CA$4,173
-3.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.01
6.08
-17.60%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Montreal: June 7, 2026

Last update for Okotoks: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,198 in Montreal versus $1,254 in Okotoks. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 4% higher in Okotoks, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $73.0 in Montreal versus $65.0 in Okotoks. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $393 vs $373 – making Okotoks the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Montreal vs Okotoks: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Montreal or Okotoks?
Okotoks costs about 11% more than Montreal, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Montreal vs Okotoks?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,126 per month in Montreal and $3,476 in Okotoks. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Montreal or Okotoks?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Montreal, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Montreal or Okotoks?
Interestingly, groceries are about 5% cheaper in Okotoks – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
How do dining costs compare in Montreal vs Okotoks?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $73.0 in Montreal and $65.0 in Okotoks. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Montreal or Okotoks?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Montreal, where all-in costs run around $2,084, than in Okotoks at $2,318. In Montreal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Okotoks it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Montreal or Okotoks?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Montreal costs $2,084 versus $2,318 in Okotoks. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Montreal compared to Okotoks?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Montreal or Okotoks?
If budget matters most, go with Montreal. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Okotoks makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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